The First Arrow Fired for Islam

Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was part of the group of Sahaabah whom Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent in the first year after Hijrah to intercept the caravan of the Quraish. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) appointed Hazrat ‘Ubaidah bin Haarith (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as the Ameer (leader) of this group. During this expedition, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) travelled to Rabigh where they met the caravan of Quraish. There was no fighting that took place during this expedition; however, arrows were fired from both sides. The first person to fire an arrow from the side of the Muslims was Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and this was the first arrow fired in Islam in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.

It was regarding this expedition that Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) recited the following poetry:

ألا هل أتى رسول الله أني    حميت صحابتي بصدور نبلي

أذود بها عدوهم ذيادا    بكل حزونة وبكل سهل

فما يعتد رام من معد    بسهم في سبيل الله قبلي

Was Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) informed of how I protected my companions by firing my arrows?

I completely turned away their enemies with my arrows (driving them away) from every hard and soft land.

Hence, from the progeny of Ma’ad, there is no person who fired an arrow before me in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.

(Isaabah 3/64)